Straw hat manufacture



24, 1933. WITTCOFF 1,932,005

STRAW HAT MANUFACTURE Filed Aug. 10, 1931 IN VEN T E f/wmz/ HOV/cufffirTOE/VE Y Patented Oct. 24, 1933 STRAW HAT MANUFACTURE EdwardWittcofl, University City, Mo. Application August 10, 1931. Serial No.556,211 7 3 Claims. (01. 2-193) v This invention relates generally tohat manufacture and has more particular reference to a novel brimconstruction for hats of woven straw or the. like.

My invention has for its chief object the provision of a novel hat-brimconstruction for effecting an economy and reduction in cost ofmanufacture of hats of woven straw or the like.

My invention has for another object the provision, in a brimconstruction for straw hats, of a smoothly rounding. neat and attractiveedge or trim to the brim of the hat in a simple, efficient, andinexpensive manner.

My invention has for still another object the provision of a brim forstraw hats having a trimming member attached to the brim by stitchingproviding an attractive and decorative effect.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides inthe novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combinationof parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective elevational view of a straw-hat embodying myinvention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a fragmentary portion of the hat-brim andits trim; and

'Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3, Figure 2.

Referring now more indetail and by reference characters to the drawing,which-illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, A designates astraw-hat of a well-known and conventional type, although it will beunderstood that my invention is applicable to substantially any kind ormodel of hat constructed of aiwoven straw or the like, the hat Aincluding, as is cus tomary, a crown 1 and a brim 2. r

In practicing my invention, factured or woven with its edge 3 unfinishedas it would naturally appear after the weaving'operation, the shape andcontour of the unfinished brim merely approximating, and a fact beingpreferably somewhat less than, the desired final dimensions of thefinished brim.

The final finished edge and contour of the hatbrim is supplied by atrimming member B composed of an initially tubular member of woven strawor the like-which by reason of its cylindrical construction is readilyflattened and longitudinally bent ,or curved, so that the folded fibersof the flattened tube-wall present a smooth neat and finished orfinishing-edge 4 having, the desired brim-contour of the hat. g

The so-flattened and formed trimming B is the brim 2 ismanuoverlappinglywith respect to the raw edge 3 applied to the underside of the brim 2,the trimming-edge 4 being consequently spaced outwardly, as at 5, fromthe raw brim-edge 3 sufficiently for extending substantially beyond anyprojecting partsthereof. The trimming B, so disposed, is then sewed andsecured to the brim 2 by preferably a simple form of overcast stitching6, the threads of which are upwardly passed through the trimming B andbrim 2 and overcast on the raw brim-edge 3 into the trimming B again forboth binding the brim-edge 3 and securing the trim B neatly flatwise indescribed overlapping relation on the brim 2, alternate stitches 6 beingpreferably oppositely inclined in V-shaped manner for providing a mostattractive and decorative effect to the finished hat.

It will be' seen that my invention provides a simple and inexpensive hatconstruction affording a neat, attractive, and highlydesirable smoothlyrounding edge or trim to the brim of the hat, the v finished hat-brimpresenting also a novel appearance having a pleasing and decorativeeffect. Not only is the cost of the hat reduced by my invention, butalso the trimming B, if damaged, may be readily replaced with newtrimming suitably furnished for the purpose, thus effecting a furthereconomy in the use of the hat.

It will be understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of thehat and trim may be made and substituted for those herein shown anddescribed without departing from the nature and principle of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is,-

1. In a straw hat, the combination with a brim having an unfinishedoutermarginal edge, of a trim consisting merely of a tubularstraw-member flattened upon itself and thereby integrally g5 convertedinto a ribbon having flatwise superposed abutting plies connected byrounded edge portions, the trim being disposed flatwis'e upon a sideface of the brim With its outer rounded marginal edge disposed outwardlyin spaced relation to the unfinished outer edge of the brim forproviding the final outer brim-edge contour of the hat, and stitchingpassed through the brim and the trim for securing the trim in brimedgeforming relation to the brim. 2. In a straw hat, the combination with abrim. having an unfinished outer marginal edge, of a trim consistingmerely of a tubular straw-member flattened upon itself and therebyintegrally converted into a ribbon having fiatwise super posed abuttingplies connected by rounded edge portions, the trim being disposedfiatwise upon a side face of the brim with its outer rounded marginaledge disposed outwardly in spaced relation to the unfinished outer edgeof the brim and providing the final outer brim-edgecontour of the hat,and stitching passed through the brim and the trim for both securing thetrim in brimedge forming relation to the brim and also binding saidunfinished outer edge of the brim.

3. In a straw hat, the combination with a brim having an unfinishedouter marginal edge, of a trim consisting merely of a tubularstraw-meio-

